A Hindus' Journey and quest to understand religion, spirituality, and culture

Category Archives: Iksvakave — History

If you did not already know this from reading my entries here it goes again.

Dharma means the “right conduct.”

The firstusage of this word Dharma actually means justice —- a type of prescribed rulesof right conduct. The first use of the word “Dharma” comes from the10th Mandala in Rig Veda. The “Rig Veda” is the first Hindu scripture. That I was told is the real reason for the use of the term Dharma in Sanatana Dharma. The words “Sanatana Dharma” is how Hindu’s labeled and have come to describe Hinduism. The Dharmashastras or Dharmasutras as they call these prescribed rules are traditionally Laws Of Manu (Manava Dharma shastra — in essence scripture of mankind).These laws on Dharma by Manu are considered the first and foremost authoritative text written.

Manu is the name of the first man in each of the designated ages. Manu or Manvantaras in Indian tradition, a progenitorsomewhat akin to the western biblical Adam. Hindu’s believe there are infinite number of ages in the past, as there will be in the future. Therefore the Manus are infinite in number. According to Time calculation in Hindu traditions, there are 14 Manvantras in eachone kalpa, which is a day in life of Brahma or 4,320,000,000. Each Manvantara hasit’s associated Manu, or human progenitor. Each Manvantara also has sevenRishis (seers/saints).

Citation for the first two paragraphs —- Book is called “Encyclopedia of Hinduism.”

The Personality of Godhead, Lord ŚrīKṛṣṇa,said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga tothe sun-god Vivasvān,and Vivasvāninstructed it to Manu,the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.

Vivasvan is the “Sun God” and is the Clan founder. He is supposed to have lived or having the same age with the origin of the world. Vivasvan literally means — master of the rays or Sun God.

The knowledge was passed from Visvasvan (Sun God) to Manu (first of Man — akin to biblical term adam. Manu then wrote the “Laws of Manu” — authoritative scriptures on Dharma — rules of right conduct/social law.

Manu then instructed it to Ikshvaku.

Ikshavaku is the ruler of the first Indian dynasty. In the Ramayana, Ikshvaku was the first king of the Solardynasty. He was an ancestor of Ram.

The Sun Dynasty or Solar Dynasty or Suryavansha is one ofthe most prominent dynasties in the history of Hinduism, along with the”Chandravansha” or Lunar Dynasty.

The word “Survanshi” means a person belongingto this solar dynasty. The city of Ayodhya was founded by Vaivasvata Manu.

The very first Manu of our kalpa or eon was calledsvayambhuva Manu who the Indian tradition says composed the Laws of Manu, thefamous Hindu text on Dharma — The social law.

Each Manu or Manvantaras at each period has a differentnames. There have already been seven Manus in the current eon or Kalpa. Therewill be seven more Manus in the remaining ages untill our eon or Kalpa isended.